Selector switch for race totali



y 4, 1950 A. F. JULIUS ET AL 2,514,070

SELECTOR SWITCH FOR RACE TOTALISATOR TICKET ISSUERS Filed June 50, 1948 Inu-en bom 2 I? JILL t, 1 4 5 Patented July 1, 1950 UNITED STATES 2,514,070 PATENT OFFICE SELECTOR SWITCH FOR RACE TOTALI- ZATOR TICKET ISSUERS Application June 30, 1948, Serial No. 36,162 In Australia June 30, 1947 6 Claims.

This invention is referable to race totalisator ticket issuers of the type broadly classifiable as incorporating an operating handpiece which on suitable manipulation relative to a dial plate, carrying numbers or numbered holes (for registration therewith of a pointer or pin on the handpiece) respectively corresponding to a number of race competitors, causes a selector switch or brush finger to contact a corresponding selector contact button, and also causes an interlock switch to be closed whereby an integrator circuit for a win place or other adding unit for a particular competitor is energised, thus to record a required ticket issuing transaction relative to that competitor.

The present invention is primarily directed to what may be called a selector assembly for ticket issuers of the general kind indicated above.

In the prior selector devices, the operatives handpiece is capable of three different movements, namely:

1. Angular rotation about a vertical axis to en- :able a dialling pin (on a sleeve upon which the handpiece is mounted) to be swept over the full :angular range of an arcuate row of dialling holes (one for each competitor) in a selector dial-plate. 2. Up and down movement whereby the dial ling pin may be actually entered into a selected dialling hole, and whereby the interlock devices and switch may be closed in order to start the issuer for the production of a printed ticket and the handpiece held down against further operation until the ticket issuing cycle is finished.

3. Radial in and out movement to condition competitor selector contact fingers or brushes for issue of a win or a place ticket as may be required.

The prior selector devices referred to above are open to objection in several respects; for example, the necessity for lowering a dialling pin, through an appreciable distance and through a space which is frequently obscured by the operators arm, in order to eiiect entrance thereof into a dialling hole, often causes the dialling hole to be missed (by parallax error for instance) This reslts in considerable time being lost in probing for the hole unless a high degree of attention and judgment (not readily applied during busy sessions of ticket issuing) is exercised. Moreover, this disability of having to lower a dialling pin into a hole by close visual attention, causes occasional issue of a wrong ticket by mis-dialling, and even supposing the proportion of wrongly issued tickets to be very small, it still constitutes a seriou inconvenience;

A further shortcoming of the prior selector devices resides in the use of two rows of dial holes and/or of two rows of selector contacts and brush arrangements therefor, to provide for issue of win and place tickets respectively. Where two rows of dialling holes are used the disabilities referred to above, including the likelihood of mis-dialling are, of course, increased; and with two rows of selector contacts and the hitherto necessary link and lever arrangements for transferring the selector brush from one row to the other (according to whether a win or place ticket is required) are relatively complicated; and, as well, tiring for the operator, because it is only the comparatively short radial in and out movement of the handpiece which effects the brush change over, and actuates the motion transmitting elements instrumental therein.

The major purpose of this invention is to overcome the stated disabilities in a simple manner, and generally to raise the einciency of ticket issuers by enabling tickets to be delivered more rapidly and easily than has been the case heretofore; and this with selector mechanism of more compact and simple construction by comparison with that used previously.

The present invention may be summarised as the provision in a race totalisator ticket issuer of a selector assembly which mainly comprises; a selection pointer casing rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, a stationary dial plate associated with the pointer casing, a handpiece lever fulcrumed about a horizontal axis for radial movement inside the casing and within a vertical plane, a pair of brush fingers mounted on the handpiece lever, two arcuate rows of selector contacts respectively associated with the brush fingers, a thrust rod endwisely movable by hand between two limit positions relative to the handpiece lever, switch mechanism circuited with the brush fingers, and actuating devices for the switch mechanism whereby placement of the thrust rod in either one of its limit positions may condition the switch mechanism to close an operating circuit for only one of thebrushfingers respective to said limit positions.

An example of the invention is illustrated in the drawing herewith. The single figure is a partly-schematic partly-sectional side elevation of a selector assembly.

The several parts of the selector assembly are mainly housed below a flat cover plate 1, which is mounted in known manner in stationary relat-ionship with the main chassis plate or base 2 of the ticket issuer. The cover plate also con stitutes a selector dial plate by reason of its having an arcuate row of competitor symbols (usually numbers) inscribed or otherwise marked thereon. This arcuate row of symbols is unaccompanied by dialling holes or the like. A selection pointer casing 3 is adapted to sweep over the row of numbers by angular rotation (in a horizontal plane) about a vertical axis coincident with the centre of the symbol row. This casing carries a pointer tip 4 which rides just over the symbols, being spaced from the dial plate by a distance which for preference is no greater than that required for ordinary running clearance. The pointer casing is restrained against all movement other than its mentioned angular rotation by being fixedly mounted on webs 5 on a sleeve bearing or pedestal 6 mounted for free rotation upon an upright tubular shaft or mast I fixed by its lower end to the main frame or chassis member 2. Adjacent its lower end the pedestal has a gear (8) sprocket, or bevel gear concentrically fixed thereon, which meshes a corresponding drive element (not shown).

A handpiece lever 9 disposed within the pointer casing is fulcrumed to the casing about a pin Iii, whereof the axis is horizontal so that the lever B is angularly movable in a vertical plane. A loading spring ll is anchored to the handpiece lever and to the pedestal. The effect of the mentioned loading spring is that at all times the handpiece lever 9 tends to assume or remain in the topmost point of its limited movement range within the pointer casing. The end of the handpiece lever adjacent the pointer end of the pointer casing is formed as a sleeve within which a thrust rod [2 is endwisely slidable. This thrust rod has a handpiece or knob l3 fixed thereto.

This knob or the support I4 therefor passes through a slot l5 in the roof of the handpiece lever and also through a slot I6 in the roof of the pointer casing. The length of slot I5 is such as to impose desired limits to the endwise movement of the thrust rod within the handpiece lever.

It will be seen that the handpiece knob is capable of three distinct movements, namely:

(1) Angular rotation about the vertical axis of the pedestal 6, in which movement, the knob l3, the pointer casing 3, the handpiece lever 9, and the thrust rod 12 move as one;

(2) Up and down motion in which the knob, the handpiece lever, and the thrust rod move as one but the pointer casing is not afiected;

(3) Radial in and out movement in which the knob and the thrust rod move as one, but in which the pointer casing and the handpiece lever are not affected.

The handpiece lever has a tubular dropper I6 pivotally connected thereto at [1. This dropper has its longitudinal axis coincident with that of the pedestal 6 and passes downwardly through the tubular shaft or mast 1. Up and down movement of the tubular dropper is used in more or less conventional manner to operate an interlock switch for closure of an integrator circuit as the first part of a ticket issuing cycle and, at the same time, is instrumental, when fully lowered, in setting off the mentioned interlock devices whereby the dropper, the handpiece lever, and hence the handpiece knob, are prevented from rising in readiness for re-operation until the particular ticket issuing cycle is finished.

The handpiece lever 9 has a downwardly projecting lug or bracket portion 18 thereon which has a brush carrier arm l9 fixed thereon. This arm carries two springbrush fingers 2|] and 2| having contact buttons on the outer ends thereof, which, when the handpiece lever is lowered, are adapted to ride upon two arcuate rows (22 and 23) of selector contacts. One of these rows (22) may be called a win row; the other (23) a place row.

Although not absolutely essential, it is desirable that the brush carrier arm also have a downwardly projecting dialling pin 24 mounted thereon. This dialing pin is adapted to register with and enter any one dialling hole (such as 25) in an arcuate row thereof, these holes being formed in any plate-like element fixed relative to the frame of the machine. This plate-like element may be that plate 26 of insulating material which carries the mentioned selector contacts. The arrangement of the dialling pin (if present) is such that when it registers with and enters one of the dialling holes, the two selector brush fingers respectively contact two of the selector contacts, one in each of the two rows thereof. It will thus be seen that when the pointer on the pointer casing is directed to a competitor symbol, then the dialling pin is able to enter a dialling hole corresponding to that competitor symbol and the two brush fingers are similarly in contact with two selector contacts both of which also correspond to that particular competitor symbol. The two selector contacts contacted by the brush fingers respectively being a win contact and a place contact corresponding to the particular competitor symbol. Contact of the brush fingers on both win and place selector contacts must not, of course, energise both win and place adding units at one and the same time. Therefore, a two-way selector switch (referred to later herein) is provided whereby only one of the two brush fingers (win or place) is alive at any one time.

The thrust rod I2 is furnished with a stop block 21 able to descend on either side of a hinge pin 28 (mounted on the handpiece lever) when the thrust rod is in either of its limit positions so that when the handpiecelever is descended, the thrust rod is necessarily positioned at one or other end of its movement range. One of these end positions is the win position; the other the place position. The radially inner end of the thrust rod has a transverse slot 29 formed therein. This slot has an actuator pin 30 disposed therein. This pin is mounted on one arm of a bell-crank 3| fulcrumed at 32 on the sleeve bearing or pedestal 6. The other arm of the bell-crank is pivotally connected at 33 to the upper end of a push rod 34 which descends freely and concentrically within the mentioned dropper tube. This rod, at its lower end,

is connected in conventional manner to one arm 35 of a multi-armed or second bell-crank fulcrumed at 36. This bell-crank has one arm 31 to which a pull rod 38 is attached for selection of win or place type devices for appropriate printing of either one of these designations on a ticket to be issued. A third arm as associated with a pull rod 40 may be used in conventional manner to select which of two veeder or like counters is operated when the issuer cam shaft performs the printing operation so that separate counts of win and place tickets may be made. A fourth arm 4| carries a striker pin 42 able to close one or other of two pairs of spring contacts 43 and 44 which constitute the mentioned two-way selector switch,

so that only one of the two brush fingers 23013-2} (i. e. win or place) is alive atanyone time, The

circuiting arrangements between the brush fingers and the contacts 43 and 44 being as indicated in the drawing.

In use, the handpiece knob I3 is grasped and the pointer casing is first moved to the dialling symbol corresponding to the competitor in respect of which a ticket is to be issued. lhe handpiece knob (if not already in required position) is moved radially inwardly or outwardly into one of its limit positions depending on whether a win or place ticket is required. This action, acting through bell-crank 3!, push rod 34, arm 4| and pin 42, will cause closure of the appropriate contacts 43 or 44. The handpiece knob is then depressed and if the pointer is not quite in required position, the entrance of the dialling pin 24 (which is preferably tapered) into the dialling hole (which is preferably bell-mouthed) for the particular competitor, steers the pointer casing into correct position so that as the descent of the handpiece knob is completed, the two brush fingers make respective contact with the selector contacts for the particular competitor in the win and place rows of selector contacts. Descent of the handpiece knob and the consequent descent of the dropper tube closes the various circuits whereby the appropriate ticket issuing cycle is commenced. When this cycle is finished, automatic reopening of the mentioned interlock devices enables the handpiece knob to rise in readiness for initiation of a fresh ticket issuing cycle.

What we claim is:

l. A selector assembly for a race totalisator ticket issuer, comprising, a selection pointer casing rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, a stationary dial plate associated with said pointer casing, a handpiece lever fulcrumed about a horizontal axis for swinging movement inside said pointer casing within a vertical plane, two brush fingers mounted on said handpiece lever, two arcuate rows of selector contacts respectively associated with said brush fingers, a thrust rod slidably associated with and longitudinally movable by hand between two limit positions relative to said handpiece lever, latching means jointly on said thrust rod and carried by the handpiece lever for holding said thrust rod in either of the two limit positions, a pair of switches respectively in circuit with said brush fingers, and operating means for said pair of switches connected to said thrust rod whereby placement of said thrust rod in either one of its said limit positions will condition one of said switches to close an operating circuit for only one of said brush fingers respective to said limit positions.

2. A selector assembly for a race totalisator ticket issuer, comprising, a selection pointer casing rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, a stationary dial plate associated with said pointer casing, a handpiece lever fulcrumed about a horizontal axis for swinging movement inside said pointer casing within a vertical plane, two brush fingers mounted on said handpiece lever, two arcuate rows of selector contacts respectively associated with said brush fingers, a plate-like element which carries said selector contacts and has an arcuate row of dialling holes therein, a dialling pin mounted on said handpiece lever, a thrust rod slidably associated with and longitudinally movable by hand between two limit positions relative to said handpiece lever, latching means jointly on said thrust rod and carried by the handpiece lever for holding said thrust rod in either of the two limit positions,

a pair of switches respectively in circuit with said brush fingers, and operating means for said pair of switches connected to said thrust rod whereby placement of said thrust rod in either one of its said limit positions will condition one of said switches to close an operating circuit for only one of said brush fingers respective to said limit positions.

3. A selector assembly for a race totalisator ticket issuer, comprising, a selection pointer casing rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical aXis and having a radial slot therein a stationary dial plate associated with said pointer casing, a handpiece lever fulcrumed about a horizontal axis for swinging movement inside said pointer casing within a vertical plane, two brush fingers mounted on said handpiece lever, two arcuate rows of selector contacts respectively associated with said brush fingers, a thrust rod slidably associated with and longitudinally movable inside said handpiece lever between two limit positions, a handpiece which is fixed on said thrust rod and extends through the radial slot in said casing and a limit slot in said handpiece lever, a stop block on said thrust rod, a limit pin mounted on said handpiece lever cooperating with said stop block to hold the thrust rod in either of said limit positions, a pair of switches respectively in circuit with said brush fingers, and operating means for said pair of switches connected to said thrust rod whereby placement of said thrust rod in either one of its said limit positions will condition one of said switches to close an operating circuit for only one of said brush fingers respective to said limit positions.

4. A selector assembly for a race totalisator ticket issuer, comprising, a selection pointer casing rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, a stationary dial plate associated with said pointer casing, a handpiece lever fulcrumed about a horizontal axis for swinging movement inside said pointer casing within a vertical plane, two brush fingers mounted on said handpiece lever, two arcuate rows of selector contacts respectively associated with said brush fingers, a thrust rod slidably associated with and longitudinally movable by hand between two limit positions relative to said handpiece lever and having a slot therein a bell-crank fulcrumed on said pointer casing, an actuator pin which is mounted on said bell-crank and engages in the slot in said thrust rod, a push rod connected to said bellcrank, a second bell-crank connected to said push rod, a striker pin on said second bell-crank and two pairs of spring contacts which are alternatively closable by said striker pin and are respectively in circuit with said brush fingers.

5. A selector assembly for a race totalisator ticket issuer, comprising, a selection pointer casing rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis and having a radial slot therein, a stationary dial plate associated with said pointer casing, a handpiece lever fulcrumed about a horizontal axis for swinging movement inside said pointer casing within a vertical plane and having a limit slot therein two brush fingers mounted on said handpiece lever, two arcuate rows of selector contacts respectively associated with said brush fingers, a plate-like element which carries said selector contacts and has an arcuate row of dialling holes therein, a dialling pin mounted on said handpiece lever, a thrust rod endwisely movable inside said handpiece lever between two limit positions and having a slot therein, a handpiece which is fixed on said thrust rod and extends thrdugh the radial slot in said casing and the radial limit slot in said handpiece lever, a stop block on said thrust rod, 3, limit pin mounted on said handpiece lever cooperating with said stop block to hold the thrust rod in either of said limit positions, a bell-crank fulcrumed on said pointer casing, an actuator pin mounted on said bell-crank and engages in the slot in said thrust rod, a push rod connected to said bell-crank, a second bell-crank connected to said ush rod, a striker pin on said second bell-crank and two pairs of spring contacts which are alternatively closable by said striker pin and are respectively in circuit with said brush fingers.

6. In a selector assembly for a, race totalizer ticket issuer, a pedestal mounted for rotary movement parallel to a horizontal plane, a handpiece lever having a longitudinal slot therein pivotally mounted on said pedestal for rotary movement therewith and for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a selector pointer casing having a pointer tip therein mounted on said pedestal for rotary movement therewith and having a radial .slot therein, a fixed dial plate mounted beneath said selector pointer casing, a fixed insulating plate mounted beneath said dial plate and having radially aligned contacts thereon and dialling holes therein, a carrier arm mounted on said handpiece lever and having brush fingers adapted to sweep over said radially aligned contacts, a dialling pin mounted in said carrier arm and adapted to rest in the dialling holes in said insulating plate and be freed therefrom as the handpiece lever is swung vertically, a thrust rod slidably associated with said handpiece lever, a knob on said thrust rod and extending through the longitudinal slot in the latter and the radial slot in the, selector pointer casing, cooperating stop means, mounted jointly on the handpiece lever and the thrust rod for limiting the terminal positionof the latter to either of two positions, a pair of switches respectively in series with the radially aligned contacts in the fixed insulating plate, and linkage comprising a first bell crank lever connected to the thrust rod and a second bell crank lever operatively mounted with said switches for operating one of the latter in one terminal position of the thrust rod and the other in the second terminal position of the thrust rod.

AWDRY FRANCIS JULIUS.

EVA DRONGHSIA ODIERNA JULIUS,

AWDRY FRANCIS JULIUS,

RUSSELL STUART HICKS, Emecutors of the Estate of George Alfred Julius,

Deceased.

REFERENCE S CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Sellner H May 7, 1901 Number 

